Anxiety decisions — 2021

The Veteran's anxiety disorder was manifested by symptoms such as flattened affect, circumstantial speech, panic attacks more than once a week, difficulty understanding complex commands, impairment of short and long-term memory, impaired judgment, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty establishing effective work and social relationships. Despite these symptoms, the Board found that they did not meet the criteria for an initial rating higher than 50 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder was granted with an effective date of March 25, 2019. The claim was reopened on a completed VA Form 20-0995 submitted within the required timeframe.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD with depressive and anxiety disorder, NOS. The Board finds that current evidence does not sufficiently reflect the impact on employment.

The Veteran withdrew all remaining issues associated with this appeal, including service connection for loss of balance and increased ratings for various psychiatric and physical disabilities. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected back and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities, thus service connection for anxiety disorder is granted.

The Board denied service connection for a prostate disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (including anxiety and depression), diabetes mellitus, and hypertension.,Service connection was not granted as the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and a need for clarification of his current disability's relation to service. The Veteran is already service connected for an insomnia disorder, but other psychiatric disorders have been diagnosed. The VA needs to obtain service personnel records and provide a medical opinion regarding the onset of any currently diagnosed psychiatric disorders during service or their relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting information regarding the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder and a need for an appropriate VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disability, SMAS, and rhinitis have been granted. The Board found that the evidence supported a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeals for an increased evaluation of anxiety disorder and for a prior effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance have been withdrawn by his representative.

The Veteran's disability rating for Generalized Anxiety Disorder was reduced from 50% to 30%, effective July 1, 2020. The Board has decided that the VA did not obtain all relevant medical records and thus remanded the case.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that additional development is needed prior to adjudication of the issue on appeal.

The Veteran's migraines are caused by her service-connected PTSD and fibromyalgia, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition as secondary to these disabilities.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for other specified anxiety disorder with limited symptom attacks and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) and nuchae were denied.,Service connection was determined to be direct, meaning no presumption or secondary service connection applied.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy is dismissed as the benefit has already been granted in an October 2019 rating decision. The remaining claims of service connection for right upper extremity radiculopathy, a left shoulder disability, and a psychiatric disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and anxiety, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as there was no new and material evidence to reopen the claims. The Veteran did not have a ratable disability of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus that could be linked to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 has been dismissed. The issues of a higher rating for depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, as well as TDIU prior to January 12, 2019, are remanded.

Your appeal for a higher rating for your service-connected mixed anxiety disorder has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the issues of shortness of breath, hearing loss, and tinnitus was dismissed due to his withdrawal. The remaining claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), left wrist disorder, and dental disorder were remanded.